Built-in deck chair



Jan. 22, 1952 P HALL BUILT-IN DECK CHAIR 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. l0, 194'.7

Jan. 22, 1952 P, L, HALL 2,583,372

BUILT-IN DECK CHAIR Filed Nov. l0, 1947 6 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 Jan. 22, 1952 p HALL BUILT-IN DECK CHAIR 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 10, 1947 P. L. HALL BUILT-IN DECK CHAIR Jan. 22, 1952 Filed Nov. 1o, 1947 's sheets-sheet 4 Jan. 22, 1952 P. L. HALL BUILT-IN .DECK CHAIR 6 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Nov. 10, 1947 Jan. 22, 1952 p. L, HALL BUILT-IN DECK CHAIR 6 SheetsSheet 6 Filed Nov. 10, 1947 Patented Jan. 22, 1952 UNITED STATE S FATE NT O-'F F ICE Bmpr-1N' DECK CHAIR l Phillip L. Hall, New York;` N. Y. Application Newman-10, 1947, serial No. 785,014 8 claims. (ci. 155488) My present invention relates/to chairs, particularly to deck chairs, and more particularly' to an improved built-in deck' chair.

The ordinary deck chair, while' efficientv and useful, is-open toa number' of serious objections: It is clumsy to handle; it takes up toomuc'h stor-v age space on the deck of a boat; it can be used by unauthorized persons; and it requires too much handling to properly service the same.

My present invention is designed to overcome all of the objectionable features oi the conventional deck chair. My improved chair, when not in use, is arranged in closed or folded condition each in its own separate casing or cabinet, such cabinets being secured to the `side wall of a deck house or the like so as to take up the minimum of deck space, and also being individually locked. rlhis eliminates entirely the necessity of providing a special storage space for the chairs, eliminates handling the chairs, and 'keeps thek chairs in proper position and available for use at all times. Further, by providing locksfef'or theeabiu nets, unauthorizeduse of the chairs is prevented, and the personal property of thelegitimate holder of the key for such lock, suchA as books, rugs, cameras, and the like, may be locked with the chair in the cabinet. A

An object of my invention is animproved deck chair.

Another object is an improved deck chair of the built-in type. v

A further object is a deck chair ioldable' to a position within an enclosure or cabinet', andl in which the bottom of the chair forms the closing panel for the enclosure or cabinet.

A still further objectl is a deck chair of the built-in type in which the leg rest is slidably mounted'in the bottom of the chair; and in which the free end of the leg rest is supported in operative position by means normally housed in the bottom of the chair, and acts as a handle for moving the chair from open to` closed position and vice versa.

Other objects and novel features of the cone struction and arrangement of parts comprising my improved chair will appear as the description of the invention progresses.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment ofmy invention:

Figure l is a plan view of theV enclosure for the deck chair, and with the chair in extended' position;

Figure 2 is generally a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1, but with the enclosure for the deck chair shown at' its top end in a sec tion taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Figure 2a is a sectional plan view,v taken on' the line 2oz-2a of Fig. 2, and looking' in' the direction of the arrows; Y j

Figure 3f is a sectional. elevation;l ,take'noni the line 3-3 of Fig. I, and lbokirlg` n the` direction' of the arrows.

Figure Sais a sectional view, taken on' theline 3a-3w of Fig. 3;, ad'lookingf' in the direc tion of the arrows;

Figure 3b is a sectionalY plan view', taken on the line 3b-'3b of Figi. 3', andI lookingv inthe direction of the arrows;

Figure 3c is a sectional elevationI taken on the line 3c--3c of Fig. 3, and looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 4 isa sectional elevation,4 taken on the une 4 4 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4a is a section; takerlon the line lla-4a of Fig. 4, and looking in the direction" of the arrows;

Figure 4b isla vertical section; taken on the line lib-4b of Fig. 4", and' looking in theV direction oi the arrows;

Figure 5 is a vertical* section' taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and showing the deck chair operating and locking mechanism inA rear elevation;

Figure Ba'is a sectional View; taken on' the line a--Ea of Fig. 5;

Figure 5b is a sectionai'elevation", taken on the line 5b-5b of Fig. 5;`r

Figure 5c is a Vsection View, taken on the line 5c-5c of Figi 5.

Figure 6 is a plan view, partly in section, and taken on the line 6 6 ofFigjgA, and:

Figure 7 isa perspectiveview showing a plu rality of deck chairsrembodying the iifive'ntion',`

together with their enclosing casings, such cas- ,ings being arranged along the sidev wallv of aV deck house, and with the respective chairsin varyingV conditions of operation; from full closed tol full open.

Referring to the drawings, there" is shown in Fig. 1 a plan view, in' Figs; 2 and 3 a' sectional side elevation, and in Fig. 7 a perspective View of al casing orcabinet vlll into which my improved deck chair is built andl housed. A plurality of these casings or :abinets I'El are secured to theV outer sidewall of' tliej usual deck house or other enclosure bulkhead AI I of a boat in any desired manner. The lower front edge.v of the enclosure or cabinet Illis' raised above the deckV i2, as is the entire bottom of thecabinetsri to permit swabbing thereunder, and pn such lower front edge is' secured a'A hinge I 3'. Secured to hinge I3 is the lower edge' of a metal plate lil;

which constitutes not only a closure'forthe cabinet iii, but also is the bottom member ofl the" seat of the chair comprising myV invention.

Mounted on and securedtoth'e upper rear end of the bottom member I4 ofthe chair and' extendingy from the rear endY forv'vardligA and arranged parallel'to and' spaced apart `froneacli other and from the sides are brackets I5. Lying 'parallel to and against the inner faces of the brackets I5, and secured to the bottom member I4 are reinforcement members I6. Reinforcement members i6 extend forwardly tothe front of the bottom member I4. Fastened to the inner face of reinforcement members I6 and spaced above the bottom member I4 are angle members I1 lying parallel to the bottom member. On the upper face of the bottom member I4 at the rear of the angle members I1 and extending between said angle members I1 is a Z bar I8. Also at the front end is a Z bar I9 on the top of which is a channel bar 20. Also secured to the upper face of the bottom member I4 parallel to and spaced apart from the angle members I1 are Z bars 2| of the saine height as the Z bars I8. This construction provides an open platform on which rests a seat 22 preferably composed of foam rubber or equivalent cushioning material.

A slideway 23 is provided at each end of channel bar 20 in which slide the ends of a rod 24 secured to the inner face of a leg rest 25, and which acts as a means for preventing such leg rest from being entirely withdrawn from attachment to the seat structure. A Z-bar I9 is provided across the entire front margin of the bottom I4 and is bored to provide a slideway for the rods 26 just outboard of Z-bars 2i. The rods 26 have formed integral therewith at their outer ends the downwardly extending U-shaped member 21. The member 21 acts as a support for the outer end of the leg rest 25 and also as a handle means for manipulating the chair to move the elements thereof into and out of the casing or cabinet I0.

Pivotally mounted at a point above their lower ends on the brackets I5, by bolts 28 and nuts 29, are the side members 30 of the back of the chair. Appropriate cross members. such as the members 3|, hold the side members 30 in proper operative relation. Secured to the cuter face of the side members 30, by welding, riveting, or in any other suitable manner, are the gussets 32, to which are pivotally mounted, by bolts 33 and nuts 34, the rear ends of the arms 35. These arms are preferably built hollow, and are substantially rectangular in cross section, as viewed in Figs. 4a and 4b, and at the rear end thereof, there is in each a spacing bushing 36 through which the pivot bolts 33I pass. Secured to the upper face of the arms 35, as by the screws 31, are arm pads 38, such pads preferably being made from foam rubber or equivalent cushioning material. The forward ends of the arm pads fall short of reaching the front end of the arms 35, and I have arranged, in the exposed top face of the forward ends of these arms, the sunken ash trays 39.

Secured to the inner face of each of the arms 35 intermediate the ends thereof and extending downwardly therefrom are the gussets 40. Pivotally attached to each of the gussets, by bolts 4I and nuts 42, is the upper end of a link 43, the lower end of which .is pivotally attached to the reinforcement members I6 by bolts 44 and nuts 45.

Secured to the inner surface of the side members 30 adjacent to but below the top ends therevof are the angle members 45 (see Figs. 3 and 3a).

Slidably mounted on the members 46 are the rectangular members 41, joined together by the crossplate 48. The members 41 and 48 are jointed together at their top end by a plate 49 provided with an eye 50. Secured to the lower face of the plate 49 is a hinge 5I and to this hinge is secured an anglej member 52 which carries a head 4 rest 53. The space between the rear of the head rest 53, the plate 48, and the side members 39 forms a compartment 54 for holding books, gloves, etc. Access to compartment 54 is obtained by swinging the head rest 53 upwardly about the hinge 5l as a pivot.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 3b and 3c, the back is comprised of an angle iron frame plate 55 on which is secured cushion back 56 of foam rubber or the like. Secured to flanges of frame 55 and extending longitudinally thereof are slideways 51 `through a wall of which is provided a lip 58.

Slidable in slideway 51, is a member 59 provided with a vertical groove 60. Secured to memebr 59 is the lower end of a friction spring 6 I, the upper end of which is free and passes through the vertical groove 60 so as to bring the upper end into position to engage with the blister 58. 'When the members 59 of the back rest are positioned n the slideways 51 and the back rest lowered to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 3c, the free end of the friction spring snaps under the blister 53 and removably maintains the back rest 55 in position on the side frame members 30.

The upper ends of the side frame members 30 are pivotally attached to the lower end of the links 62 by bolt 63 and nut 64. The upper end of each link 62'r is pivotally mounted on a member 65 secured to the side plates of the casing or cabinet IU.

The upper end of the front of the cabinet .I0 is closed by a plate 66, the lower edge of which lies flush with the forward edge of the seat bottom member I4 when the apparatus is in closed position. Formed on such lower edge of the plate 65 is a guide lip 61.

Referring to Figs. 5, 5a, 5b, and 5c, there is shown a housing 68 secured to the inner face of the plate 66, as by spot Welding, and also below said plate `parallel thereto and adjacent the lower edge of the plate 66 is a transverse bar 69. Secured to the Z bar I9 on the forward edge of the chair bottom I4 is a transversely extending double layer bar 10, adapted to be engaged by locking bolts 1l that are Slidably mounted in the transverse bar 69.

Centrally arranged in the plate 58 is a hole in which is secured an escutcheon plate 12. In alignment with the escutcheon member 12, and in the housing 68, is a stud 13. This stud 13 projects into the escutcheon plate 12 and the projecting end has a non-circular portion 14 and a circular enlargement 15 thereon. The body of the stud 13 is rotatably mounted in a bearing formed in the escutcheon member 12 and housing 68. The end of the stud 13 adjacent the body thereof is reduced in diameter and threaded to receive a nut 15. On the reduced portion is mounted a double cam member 16 provided on either end thereof and below the center of rotation with cam rollers 11. Fitting into the escutcheon member 12 is a key 18, the inner end of which is provided with a non-circular hole 19 which fits onto the non-circular portion 14 of the stud 13, and by means of which stud 13 is rotated.

Secured to the housing 68, and on each side of the stud 13, are straps 80, and 8I, spaced from and lying parallel to the housing. Passing through each strap and the housing is a shaft 8|. On each of the shafts 8| is rotatably mounted a bar 82, intermediate their ends. The inner ends of the bars 82 are pivotally attached to-v gether by a shaft 83. The outer ends of the bars 82 are pivotally attached to the upper ends of the locking bolts 1I. On the housing 68, adja# cent to the outer ends of the bars 82, are housings 84 for maintaining such bars in proper alignments. Secured, one end to the housing 68, and the other end to one of the bars 82, is a coil spring 85, which tends at all times to urge the locking bolts 1| into locking position.

The bars 82 are rotated to removethe locking bolts 1I from engagement with the locking bar 10 on the Z bar I9, and this regardless of the direction of rotation of the double cam 16. Either one of the cams 11 will rotate the bars 82 in the proper` direction to unlock the locking bars 1I.

In operation, and assuming that it is desired to open the chair to its fullest extent, the operator, by utilizing the key 13, as shown in Fig. b, operates the double cam 16 so as to move the locking bars 1I from engagement with the locking plate 10. He will at the same time, grasp the U-shaped member 21 and pull the same outwardly from the cabinet I0, as is indicated at the partly open unit at the left of Fig. 7. By continued pulling on the U-shaped member 21, the chair is fully opened as shown in the next to the right chair in Fig. 7.

In the chair referred to, the head rest 53 is shown rotated on the hinge 5I, so as to afford access to the compartment 54. After the chair is fully opened, the operator may use the chair in that condition, that is, without using the leg rest 25, or, if he desires to use the leg rest, he may pull on the U-shaped member 21, thus pulling out the rods 26 to the position shown in the fully opened chair at the right in Fig. '1. When the U-shaped member 21 is in its extended position, the operator will pull the leg Lrest 25 outwardly from its housing under the seat 22 and let the outer end rest on the bar 21.

To close the chair and house the same in the cabinet I0, the operator reverses the operation just described. The leg rest 25 is pushed back under the seat 22. The bar 21 is pushed to slide the rods into position in the seat frame. The bar 21 is then lifted so as to rotate the chair bottom I4 about the hinge I3, as a pivot, thus moving the side members 30 of the back upwardly. and into the dash line position shown in Fig. 2. Continued rotative movement of the chair bottom I4 about the hinge I3 will cause the elements of the chair to fold into a compact mass within the cabinet I0, as indicated by the dash lines in Fig. 2. When the chair bottom reaches the position with its upper edge about to ride flush with the surface of the plate 66, the lockf ing bar (see Fig. 5a) will engage with the bevelled end of the locking bolts 1 I, moving the same upwardly sufficiently to permit passage of the bolt 1I over the locking bar 10 and into the position shown in Fig. 5a, whereupon the spring 85 will rotate the bars 82 to move the locking bars 1I into the locking position with respect to the locking bar, as shown in Figs. 5 and 5a.

While I have described and illustrated my invention as a built-in deck chair, it will be understood that such treatment is illustrative and not limiting and that the principles of my inventionfmay be applied to various other installations of foldable chairs.

It is also to be understood that since many changes in the construction and arrangement of parts comprising my improved chair may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, I do not therefore. limit myself to the exact structure shown and described, other than as set out in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

l. An improved built in deck chair comprising a flat cabinet secured to a bulkhead, a door for said cabinet hinged at its lower margin to the cabinet to let down in a substantially horizontal plane, a chair seat secured to said door on its inner surface, brackets secured to said door anking the said seat and providing the door with longitudinal rigidity, a chair back, links connecting the upper end of the said back within the upper end of said cabinet, the lower end of the chair back pivotally connected to the said brackets at a point substantially up from the hinge of the door, and the links positioned and adapted to retain the back against further downward movement when the said door is lowered to a substantially horizontal position whereby the said back serves as a strut to hold the chair seat in position.

2. An improved built in chair comprising a cabinet secured to a bulkhead, a door for the cabinet, a hinge connecting the door to the cabinet at the lower margin of the door, a chair seat mounted on the inner surface of the door, a chair back pivotally connected at its lower end to the said door at a point between half way up the door from the hinge and one quarter of the way up from the said hinge, links pivotally connected at one of their ends to the cabinet inside and above the level of the said door, and at their other ends connected to the said back, whereby the door may be lowered to bring the said back down into a reclining position, with the links retaining the back against further downward movement and thereby holding the door and seat up, and whereby the door may be elevated to a closed position with the links pivoting inside the cabinet and the backv housing itself therein.

3. An improved built in deck chair comprising a cabinet secured to a bulkhead, a door for the cabinet hinged along the lower margin thereof to swing down into a substantially horizontal position; a chair seat mounted on the inner surface of the said door, means retaining the said door in substantially horizontal attitude comprising a chair back. pivotally connected to the door at a point up from the hinged connection thereof to the cabinet, and links pivotally connected to the upper end oi' the said chair back, .and to the inside of the cabinet, the said linksadapted to retain the said back against downward motion when the door and seat are in a substantially horizontal position and likewise adapted to pivot and allow the upper end of the said back to rise upward within the cabinet when the said door is raised and closed.

PHILLIP L. HALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 192,284 Richardson June 19, 1877 945,208 Arter i Jan. 4, 1910 975,188 Williamson Nov. 8, 1910 1,216,237 Corbin Feb. 20, 1917 1,632,737 Lane June 14, 1927 1,692,930 Cummings Nov. 27, 1928 

